Question 1

How could I add a connector like de facto or na verdade to this sentence to emphasize checking if they actually have it?

Accepted Answer

You can place the connector in the second clause to emphasize the reality of their claim. For example: Estamos a verificar se a fábrica tem, de facto, a certificação. This translates to "We are verifying if the factory, in fact, has the certification."

Question 2

Since we don't know yet if the factory has the certification, why do we use the indicative tem instead of the subjunctive tenha after se?

Accepted Answer

This is a classic B2 trap! When se means "whether" and introduces an indirect question (which often follows verbs of inquiring or checking, like verificar, saber, or perguntar), it always triggers the indicative mood. You use the subjunctive after se for conditional statements (e.g., "If they were to have it..."), not indirect questions.

Question 3

Could I use confirmar instead of verificar here?

Accepted Answer

You can, but it slightly changes the nuance. Estamos a verificar implies you are checking the facts from a relatively neutral standpoint to see if it is true or false. Estamos a confirmar often implies you already suspect or were told they have it, and you are just seeking final validation.

Question 4

Why use the definite article in a certificação rather than just saying se a fábrica tem certificação?

Accepted Answer

Including the article (a certificação) points to a specific, required certificate that the speakers already have in mind (like a specific safety permit or ISO standard). If you drop the article (tem certificação), it becomes more general, simply meaning "has certification" or "is certified."

Estamos a verificar se a fábrica tem a certificação.

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